,8o Natural Magick » c Boo^6.

there. Let it also have on the top, and in the middle ok it* roof, a hole about 4foot in breadth, by which the flame may penetrate into the second vault, and reachto the upper roof; whence the flame being reverberated, doth cause a vehementheat. In this upper vault there must be cut out in the wall small holes of a handfulin breadth, which must open and (hut, to set the pots and pans in on the floor , andto take them out again. Artificers call these pots Crucibles ; they are made of clay,which is brought from Valencia , aud doth very strongly endure fire: They must be afinger thick , and a foot and a half deep, their bottom somewhat thicker, lest theyshould break with the force of the fire. All things being thus provided, cast in yourwood and fire , and let the fornace heat by degrees, so that it may be perfectlyhoc in a quarter of a day. Your woikmen must be diligent to perform their duty ;then let the Pastils, being broken into pieces about the bigness of a wall-nui, beput into crucibles r and set in the holes of the fornace built for that purpose, witha pair of iron tongs to every pot. When they melt, they will rife up in bubbles, andgrowing greater and greater, must be pricked with soarp wires ; that the vapor pis-sing out, the bubbles may sink down a°ain, and not run over the mouth of the cru-cibles. Then let other pieces be put in, and do as before , until the pots be filledto the top: and continue the fire for a whole day, until the matter be concocted.Then put an iron hook into the pots , and try whether the matter have obtained aperfect transparency : which if it have, rake it out of the pots with iron instrumentsfor that purpose , and cast it into cleat water, to wash off the filth and stains, and topurge out the fait: for when the Gems are made, onaiuddainthe salt breaks forth,as it were spued out, and overcast them like a cloud. Yet there must be a greatdeal of diligence used, whilst you draw out this vitrified matter , lest it touch thesides of the fornace; for it will cleave thereto like birdlime, hardly to be pulledoff without part of the wall: as also lest it fall into the vessels: for it is very difficultto separate it, and it prejudices the clearness of the glass. When it is cold, put itagain into the crucibles , and let it glow for two days, until it be concocted intoperfect glass. When this vitrified matter hath stood so for two days, some, to makeit more fine and bright, lest it should be specked with certain little bubbles (to whichglass is very subject) put into the crucible some white lead , which presently grow-eth red , then melts with the glass and becomes clear and perspicuous. Mike yourtryal then with an iron hook ; for if it be clear of those bubbles, ic is perfected , andso will be a perfect masses Gems. Now we will teach the several Colours, Yellow,Green, or Blue, wherein we will cast our Gems.

Chap. IV.

To make Colours,

■\XZHile the Crystal is preparing in the fornace, by the fame fire the Colours mayVV be also made: And first,

Hor* to make Crocut of Iron:

Take three or four pounds of the limature of Iron , wash it well in a broad vessel;for by putting ic into water, the weight of the iron will carry that to the bottom -but the straws and chips, and such kind of filth, will swim on the top ; so you willhave your filings clean and wash d. Then dry it well, and put it. into an earthen gla-zed pot with a large mouth, and pour into it three or sour gallons of the best andsharpest vinegar: there let ic macerate three or four weeks, stirring it every day se-ven or eight times with an iron rod: then giving it time to settle, pour out the vine-gar into another pot, and put fresh vinegar into the iron - and do this, till the vine-gar have consumed all the filings. Then put all the vinegar into an earthen vessel,and set it on the fire, and let it boil quite away : In the bottom there will remain aslimy durty matter, mixt with a kind of fatness of the icon, which the fire by conti-nuance will catch hold of : let it hum, and the remaining dust will beCrocus, Ci-thers file your rusty nails, aud heating them red hot, quench them m vinegar j then

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